1. Your Research Paper Guidelines
Spectra of Science

2. Type 12 font Times New Roman Double-spaced 1 inch margins all around
Basic APA Guidelines
Type 12 font
Times New Roman
Double-spaced
1 inch margins all around

5. Parts of the Paper Title Page Experiment Methods Table of Contents
Abstract
Introduction
Background
Experiment Materials
Experiment Methods
Data Analysis
Conclusions
Appendix
References

6. Title Page Title of Paper All Centered in center of page
Your Full Name
Period
Date Submitted
Running Head
All Centered in center of page
In header;

8. Table of Contents Includes the names of all sections of your paper
Page number on which the section begins

9. Abstract
This is a brief description of your overall project and findings. The purpose of an abstract is to provide a summary of the project that will inform interested individuals of the contents.
No more than 250 words.

10. Introduction
This is a brief introduction to your project. It should contain a description of your problem, purpose, hypothesis and experiment. Be sure to explain why your project and its findings might be important to you or others.
2-3 paragraphs

11. Background
Discuss your research findings. What did you need to learn more about to better understand your project and what did you find? (I.e. What is an electrolyte? What is the structure of a horse’s eye?)
This is also the section where you will do most of your citations.
Minimum of 2 pages

12. In-Text Citation
Plagiarism is illegal!

13. What do I have to cite? NOT TO CITE TO CITE:
•ALL Quotations MUST be cited•
Any information, thought, idea, or opinion gathered from a source must be cite
Common knowledge does NOT need to be cited•
Your own opinion does NOT need to be cite
Either quote the text verbatim and put the quote in quotation marks
Completely paraphrase the information
It’s better to overcite than undercite.
(Jackson, 2011)

14. How do I cite it?
Place in parenthesis at the end of the sentence, in this order, separated by commas:
Author(s) last name
Year of publication (if known)
Page number (if known)
If any of these is unknown (not given), leave it off
If any of these pieces are included in the sentence itself, you do not need to cite it at the end in parenthesis

15. Example 1
She stated, "Students often had difficulty using APA style" (Jones, 1998, p. 199).
("Owl purdue online," 2011)

16. Example 2
She stated, "Students often had difficulty using APA style" (Jones, 1998, p. 199), but she did not offer an explanation as to why.
("Owl purdue online," 2011)

17. Example 3
According to Jones (1998), "Students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it was their first time" (p. 199).
("Owl purdue online," 2011)

18. Example 4
Jones's (1998) study found the following: Students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it was their first time citing sources. This difficulty could be attributed to the fact that many students failed to purchase a style manual or to ask their teacher for help. (p. 199)
("Owl purdue online," 2011)

19. Example 5
APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners (Jones, 1998).
("Owl purdue online," 2011)

20. Experimental Materials
List the materials you needed to gather in order to complete your experiment. It may be appropriate in some cases to explain where certain unfamiliar items can be obtained. This may be a bulleted list.
Includes what type, brand, how much of each material and correct sizes

21. Experimental Methods
Explain the Methods of your project step by step. Give a detailed set of instructions on how you carried out your experiment. Include how you built all involved mechanisms and contraptions.
Be Detailed and Specific!

22. Data Analysis
Explain and discuss the data you collected, quantitative and qualitative.What trends or patterns did you notice?
You will want to refer to your charts and graphs that appear in the Appendix.
See Figure 1 in the Appendix.

23. Conclusions Summarize your findings
Return to your hypothesis and compare your experiment results to your hypothesis. Are they the same or different? Why do you think?
Draw a conclusion(s). Make sure you can support these conclusions with your data.
What did you learn from the experiment?
Try to give a scientific explanation for what occurred.

24. Conclusions Cont’d
Return to your problem question and determine if you have an answer. (Even if the answer is: “I still do not have an answer.”)
Discuss errors that may have occurred that could have affected the reliability of your results.
Explain why your findings are important.
What is the next step?

25. Appendix
This where you place all your charts, diagrams, graphs, and/or pictures.
(Label each as Figure 1, 2, 3, etc.)
Minimum of 2

26. References In MLA it is called a “Bibliography”
Cite all your sources where you found information presented in your paper using correct APA format.

27. Citing References
Plagiarism is illegal!

28. Reference Page Alphabetized Indent second line of same citation
Use Citation Maker website:
Go to XHS library
Click research
Click Works cited
Click “Bibme”
Select APA format

29. (Lester, 2009)

30. Visit the OWL Writing Lab:
For More Help…
Visit the OWL Writing Lab:
Go to our library page
Click the research tab
Click works cited
Click on OWL Writing Lab

31. References
Jackson, J. (2011, 10 04). Apa style workshop. Retrieved from Lester, S. (2009). Sample reference page. In APA Style Sample Reference Page (p. 2). Saint Joseph College, Center for Academic Excellence. Retrieved from Owl purdue online writing lab. (2011). Retrieved from